The World’s Last Untouched Places (Before They Disappear) | Monika Sundem, Founder of Adventure Life

What this episode is about

The discussion highlights the allure of the world's last untouched places, specifically the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica, emphasizing their pristine landscapes and the transformative experiences they offer to adventurous travelers. Monika Sundem, founder of Adventure Life, underscores her company’s commitment to creating unique, customized travel experiences that allow explorers to fulfill their dreams of visiting these extraordinary destinations.

Key takeaways

• The Galapagos and Antarctica: adventure awaits where civilization fears to tread and wildlife walks up to you.
• Your bucket list should have a big sky! Experience horizons and untouched beauty before climate change steals the view.
• Forget group tours; adventure means crafting your own unique dream trip—like a mad scientist in travel gear.
• Travel isn't just about the destination; it’s navigating the wild. Pack your heart, not just your backpack.
• Antarctica's charm lies in its remoteness; witness it now, before rising seas turn glaciers into beachfront property.

Who speaks in this episode?

• Monika Sundem (Guest) · 18 min speaking
• Unknown Host (Host) · 8 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Adventure Life, Aurora
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Adventure Life, Tom Barrett, Living While Dying
3. 15:00 – 20:00: Adventure Life
4. 20:00 – 25:00: Adventure Life

Notable quotes from "The World’s Last Untouched Places (Before They Disappear) | Monika Sundem, Founder of Adventure Life"

• I was so blown away that I just remember feeling Oh my gosh, I didn't know a place like this existed.

  about Galapagos Islands · at 0:00

• Last week. But those two things are things that I'm I need to go to those things. And that's what I love about adventure life and what you're doing. So, let's get to it. You've…

  about Adventure Life · at 1:23

• Yes. So for me I actually traveled with one of our operators that we work with.

  about Aurora · at 4:34

• Some real heartwrenching stories like that sometimes. I have a recent gentleman, his name is Tom Barrett.

  about Tom Barrett · at 9:19

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Tom Barrett — Person · Referenced traveler/author (case study) · 1 mention · first at 9:24
  Presented as an example of a meaningful, purpose-driven trip arranged by Adventure Life; he later wrote a book about the journey while facing stage four cancer.

Books & papers

• Living While Dying — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at 9:26
  Mentioned as a book written by a traveler who went on a life-changing trip with Adventure Life.
  Actually, I probably should plug his book is Living While Dying is what he wrote as a result of his journey with us. We sent him all around South America and he is recently diagnosed with.

Companies & orgs

• Adventure Life — Company · Business focus · 5 mentions · first at 1:30
  The main company discussed, specializing in custom adventure travel experiences.
• Aurora — Company · Case study · 1 mention · first at 4:41
  Referenced as an operator Adventure Life works with for Antarctic expeditions.

Places & events

• Galapagos Islands — Place · Setting · 2 mentions
  Highlighted as a unique travel destination with abundant wildlife and remote islands.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 I was so blown away that I just remember feeling like, "Oh my gosh, I didn't know a place like this existed."

0:06 You've been to Galapagos and you've been to Antarctica. I I really truly think everyone should should go there at least once in their lifetime. So many of the islands don't have any people living on them. It's just like, oh my gosh, all around 360 views I can see so far. No civilization, nothing. They are people who are up for an adventure. I'm not talking about physical stamina needs to be topnotch, but they have a heart of adventure. And so we help them get out and explore instead of just, I don't know, sit and eat. We just get some really neat travelers like that who come to us, I think, because we're willing to try to make their dreams happen. Like a lot of travel companies will say, "Well, here's what we do or here's our group tours you can do." but they aren't willing to patch together this crazy custom thing that nobody's ever done.

0:58 And that's really what makes us unique. So, Monica, two [snorts] things I've always wanted to do in my life. One is travel to Antarctica, and two is to travel to the Gopagos Islands. I've been to pretty much every continent in the world. I just hit 50 countries travel last week. But those two things are things that I'm like, I need to go to those things. And that's what I love about adventure life and what you're doing. So, let's get to it. You've been to Galapagos and you've been to Antarctica. I think some people think like, holy cow, like that's way it's not like I'm going to go to France or go to Eur go to South America. I take a plane like this requires a lot of stuff. Can you tell me exactly what is the experience like if I was to go to those two places?

1:56 Oh my goodness. It's second to none. I I actually a funny story. I didn't really want to go to the Gapos when I first went. Um I I more went out of obligation so that I would know what I was talking about with travelers on the phone. And I was so blown away that I just remember feeling like, "Oh my gosh, I didn't know a place like this existed." I think everyone should come here. Just a place where the wildlife truly are not scared of you and in fact curious come up to you. It felt like a living zoo or aquarium that you're walking around in and exploring. And so one of I I really truly think everyone should should go there at least once in their lifetime because it is so remote. So many of the islands don't have any people living on them and so you truly feel like I just got pllopped in the middle of the ocean to go explore this little island here by myself. So yeah, I really think that uh

2:51 Antarctica as well gives you that same feeling. You are again you're you're just at the furthest south feeling of the world. I mean, we're not you're not South Pole South, but you're really darn close when you're around the peninsula and it just feels like the sky is so big. I I live out here in Montana where it's called or big sky country, right? I never understood that. I grew up in Seattle area and I came out here and I'm like, "Oh, they call it big sky because the sky truly is so big because you can see the horizon for days and days and days." And in Antarctica, it's the same exact thing. It's just like, oh my gosh, all around 360 views, I can see so far no civilization. Nothing. I'm just in the middle of nothing. And it's gorgeous and pristine and feels very untouched.

3:42 So, I I really do think you should get to both of those if you haven't been either of them. Time's ticking too because you know there's climate change is happening and you will possibly not experience the same destination that you would otherwise.

3:58 That's why I need adventure life because I've heard Yeah. Antarctica. I mean it might be like beachfront property sadly in the future. And I I even heard like penguins are leaving and I don't I don't know if they're migrating or they're they're dying off. I'm not sure. But So can you tell me about of how it how it is to get to Antarctica? I've heard a lot of stories around this as well and it sounds very fascinating and and everyone's told me it's not always the so easy getting there but when you're there it's totally like oh my gosh slap in the face worth it. Can you share with me the process of how you were getting there?

4:34 Yes. So for me I actually traveled with one of our operators that we work with. We work with all the main operators who are doing expedition cruising down there. And so I went with Aurora. And how we um worked it is you fly actually out of Punterus in Chile. You board a two-hour flight to go fly down to King George Island. Board your vessel there and from there you sail. So and the reason I did that is I did not want to sail across the Drake Passage, which is that little spit of water between the southern tip of South America and the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

5:04 It's well known for many historic shipwrecks. Um, the wager book actually talks about one of them which is was a really fun read. But so I didn't want to do the the Drake because I don't like the sea. I don't I get seasick very easily and so I'm like I'll skip it. [snorts] So I boarded a flight 2 hours down. I'm on the vessel for nine days and then you're just sailing around the peninsula and getting off where you're able is really is huh maybe we'll go here today. I mean, the ships do have an idea where they'd like to go, but the weather changes everything. So, each day it may be roughly mapped out, but then it might change depending on the weather, depending on the opportunities in the area we're at. For my voyage, we actually ended up spending some days um trying to escape a little storm that was following a storm system that was following us around. So, I was like, well, maybe we'll just go over here. And

5:55 we actually ended up tipping over into the the east side on the wet sea, which is not common on the sailing I was supposed to be on because the weather was looking better out there. And so we got to explore an extra area that wasn't even supposed to be on our itinerary. And it is just really fun because you just never know what the day holds. It's like, oh my gosh, let's let's look and see what we can do today. So it's a different kind of travel.

6:22 Yeah. Some people love to map out everything. Some people in my family, I can never travel with them because they need to go to this museum. They need to do this tour and that's not me. I like the adventure life really. That's what I like. I don't necessarily want to know everything I'm going to do up up front. I want to kind of figure it out as I go along. Are you finding that it's a different type of traveler that comes to you for adventure life?

6:48 Yes, completely. I mean, they are people who are up for an adventure. That doesn't necessarily mean they're, you know, marathon runners. I'm not talking about physical stamina needs to be topnotch, but they have a heart of adventure. They want to get out and do. They want to go move in some way. And so, we help them get [clears throat] out and explore instead of just, I don't know, sit and eat um or, you know, sit and watch the beach. So, we're trying to get them out and be a little more active. And uh most of those kinds of people are willing to be flexible. Like if the weather does this this day, okay, then we're going to change the adventure to go do that. And um people who are willing to be adaptable and turn any kind of day into a fun adventure are typically the kind of traveler we're attracting.

7:35 What's the craziest request that somebody wanted you to do for their adventure or what's the most out there thing that you guys have done? I I can't I mean we have done some very crazy things. We are custom travel so people come to us some with some very interesting requests. Um one example I I saw this was not my own but one of our staff had a some a gal request to tour all these different very remote battlefields in Vietnam where her husband fought specific. she wanted to go battlefield by battlefield and some of them are, you know, a little more known to the tourist area, you know, but some of these were very remote battlefields that are hardly even marked and she just really wanted to walk in the footsteps of what her husband had experienced. So, that's one example. I I remember back in my early days actually I had a a gal out of Australia come to me who had lost her husband and her

8:34 brother and her uh father on a flight out of Australia. They used to do these flyover flights down to see Antarctica and and one of those historically crashed into a mountainside in a white out and she lost all three of her family members. And she asked me to get her on an Antarctic ship that would sail right up to where that mountain is and even um see if the operator would let her get off on shore there to go experience the actual landing site. And they were able to accommodate that. I mean, it was a real feat that we all pulled off to get her to be able to go commemorate where she lost them. This was on, I think, the 25th anniversary of their passing that she wanted to do this. So, um, we get some real heartwrenching stories like that sometimes. I have a a recent gentleman, his name is Tom Barrett.

9:26 Actually, I probably should plug his book is Living While Dying is what he um wrote as a result of his journey with us. We sent him all around South America and uh he is recently diagnosed with stage four cancer and just decided I need to get out and explore that's going to bring purpose and meaning right now. And he went on this trip and it just completely changed his life. And he came back and decided to write a book about it. And then he ended up going on another adventure the next year as he's been battling it, battling cancer. He's still like, "As long as I can get out and move, I'm going to keep getting out and moving."

10:02 So, we just get some really neat travelers like that who come to us, I think, because we're willing to try to make their dreams happen. Like, a lot of travel companies will say, "Well, here's what we do or here's our group tours you can do," but they aren't willing to patch together this crazy custom thing that nobody's ever done. And that's really what makes us unique.

10:22 Yeah. I mean, what I'm hearing, and that's incredible stories, by the way, it's tra there. There's different reasons why people travel obviously, right? Like some people just want to get away. They want to go on vacation. Some people want to explore. My dad is trying to see every aqueduct in the world. I don't even know. So he wants to design these Lego aqueducts. He needs to see them. That's I don't even understand. But

10:47 it's fascinating though because some of them are ancient. So that's actually like some of them are really fascinating were really well built. So

10:54 he is a hydrogeeologist. America. It kind of makes sense. But but I'll say like my point though is like we all have these different reasons to travel and but travel for some can be very an emotional experience like you mentioned connections from people in the past, connections to loved ones, connections to um I was just going to Romania to see where my family was before they moved to the US. My mom even gave me her address of where they used to be. So it it's it's like a connection like I think humans for thousands of years have traveled for a variety of reasons and it's like connection to our ancestral selves. Um when you when you talk about uh the journey through covid because the travel industry was initially decimated I mean I was really scared for anyone who is in the travel space that is something very hard. I was actually also in the travel space too. So, it was it's hard to go through that. Um, how was the

11:57 journey like when you dropped down to almost having no staff to then going back up to the staff that you had before, you know, uh, and these people that you work with all around the world? How was that like?

12:10 It was, I'll be honest, it was terrifying because you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders in a sense of both wanting to do right by your travelers. Many of our travelers felt they had booked travel, you know, a year or two prior and now they felt trapped in these trips. They felt unsafe to travel and yet they had all this money tied up in this non-refundable thing. And then our staff felt nervous that they were going to lose their jobs. And so there was a real pull there between doing right by our travelers, but also retaining our top talent. That was tricky to navigate, especially that first year. And uh we ended up deciding that if we don't do right by our travelers, we don't have a company anymore.

12:56 We just plain and simple, we need to be transparent with them. We need to share their risk and their options. So we would we would take a very transparent approach of okay, here's where we sit. Here are some of the options we can offer you in light of this. Here's the risk if you take this option. Here's the risk if you take that option. and and just try to lay out all the factors that we knew so that they could make an informed decision. I know a lot of companies were not doing that. They were not sharing risk such as, you know, certain countries would um lock you down on quarantine. If you still wanted to travel, if you felt like I'm going to risk the COVID risk, but if you tested positive upon trying to leave the country, they could quarantine you. And some of them indefinitely. Some of them would have set amount of quarantine.

13:43 Some of them would say we just quarantine you until you test posit or test negative again which for some people was a month. So we would have to share very transparently you know if you choose to still do the trip you could and we'll help you but there is a risk if you test positive that you're stuck there for a month. And so just trying to be transparent with them about that and then fighting really hard for rebooking options for favorable credits. like we shuffled a lot of things down and floated a lot of non-refundable credits that travelers who wanted refunds but we would take their credit and apply it to and just hope that new travelers would book it in the future so that we could do right by our travelers and I think in doing that we managed to also retain our staff because more and more people kept coming to us our our rebooking rate because we were so transparent was very high upwards of 80% of our travelers who

14:39 were booked when COVID hit, still rebooked or ended up traveling at some point in the near future with us. And I think that's because we were so transparent. I know a lot of other travel companies did not experience the same thing, experienced lawsuits, things like that. We we managed to navigate it without any of that. And I really do think that stems back from just a choice to be um to maintain our integrity. Like if we don't if our travelers aren't thrilled with our service, then what what are we doing? So

15:09 yeah, I mean if you can if you can get through those moments, you really can get through anything. It that's it's a tough part of business. I was talking to someone before this conversation and they were like, "Hey, I want to I want to jump into business, but I'm scared. I'm scared." And I'm like, "Look, the fear doesn't stop even when you hit success because it can be taken away the next day." They're roller coasters, right? Um, how do you I have a very controversial question and if you if you can't answer this, I totally understand, Mo. Uh, so some might say that social media, for example, like Instagram specifically really helped create more tourism because I think a lot of people are chasing what they've seen. Like if I never saw the trips of Antarctica, I may never have wanted to go, but I see people posting and I'm like, I want to go, right? And then obviously everybody wants to also make

16:04 content when they go somewhere most of the time. I'm just talking overall nothing to do with like adventure life specifically. But so tourism I think has been created based on social media certain places, but it's also in some of those places done damage because there's too many people. It's they're overrun. So you have this balance and and I think you have a lovehate relationship with a lot of the people whether they're they're physically there and it helps them or it hurts them. How do you feel just in general in terms of the what social media has done for the tourist and specifically I think trips that are more unique or different?

16:44 Sure. You know we were a member of the adventure travel association trade association. So, and they threw out a really interesting statement at our summit a couple years ago that has really stuck with me that we need to not promote what travelers want. We need to promote what destinations need. And that really sticks with me and our ethos of we want to impact positively the local community, the people who are visited as well as the visitors. And so to ensure that that's happening, you have to be visiting areas where it's welcome, where they're prepared, the structure is there, and it benefits the local community with education and economic opportunities, and is not something where you're being cursed if you hit the streets by the locals because they don't want you there. So, we have we've strived really hard to create and craft tours on our website that visit remote and off thebeaten path

17:49 areas, little lesserk known gems that have just as much to offer as some of these larger uh tourism hubs, but are just have never gotten on the map in their marketing. And a lot of times our travelers come back just raving about these places because there's not as many tourists there. It felt more authentic. I really felt like I got to know the locals. They were all so friendly with us because they were glad we were there. I mean, that really heightens the experience. No one wants to go be a tourist in a place where like everyone's scorning your presence when you're walking on the street. So, I feel like in general, the adventure travel industry as a whole for the most part really does that well. We really want to try to offer the places in in destinations that welcome people and are ready to receive them with open arms and because that adds the experience. I want to go feel like I'm someone's new friend

18:42 when I travel. I don't want to feel like I wasn't welcome. So that's what we strive to do.

18:48 That's a really good one. I've never heard that before, but it makes total sense. I think most people will take advantage of the situation while it's there versus trying to make the place better. I'm thinking this is this is I and I don't know I'm I'm I'm not you know I'm not an expert. I'm thinking though the future of travel could be to space. I know people are already doing it but obviously it's very expensive and it can only be you know x amount of times per year. But I'm thinking space, maybe the moon, I don't know, maybe Mars at some point. Would you go?

19:24 We have considered, we have, we have had companies approach us seriously pitching space hotel options and things like that. And we have started to have internal conversations as to whether or not we will jump on that ship when it sails. I'm not sure yet. The jury is out. The liability and risk of it all is just, you know, cause for concern. But um we tend to support things like that if they have if they have some sort of positive impact like I know that space exploration positively impacts research and so like likewise like we know that there's also a tradeoff when it comes to you know carbon emissions of travel. I mean it's the big ugly no one wants to talk about that the just getting on a plane is emitting carbon and but I believe that travel is the tool and the mechanism by which we can learn and grow from each other and find solutions that impact everyone not just your own one part of the world. So I also feel like

20:23 travel is like the the networking that needs to happen to make positive change. So, if space exploration would positively impact I then we probably would consider promoting it. We'll see. We'll have to see.

20:37 I I'm with you. Some of the best things that I've done in my life are traveling because I get to really exper like if you want to learn about some a culture, a place, you go there and you stay there and you really see what it's like. You talk to the people. For example, I was just in Finland because, you know, they say Finland is the happiest country. I'm not even kidding. A 100% of the people that I asked are not happy and they said they are not happy there, which I found to be really

21:07 not happy that they got labeled as the happiest country either. They're not happy about it and that they're actually not happy. And I found that super fascinating. I'm like, see, this is why I came here. Like, I didn't come here to see a site. I came here literally because I wanted to talk to people and I wanted to understand like how they're so happy. And turns out they're not even happy. But then I went somewhere else that's definitely not on the list and everyone there was really happy.

21:32 I have learned I've grown more and more pessimistic the older I get that almost everything is spin unless you experience it yourself personally. And this reminds me of like, so this is a a painting of my first international trip. I went to Guatemala on a missions trip when I was a teenager. And I was we were going to a very poor area to help build a school. And I was expecting everyone to just be miserable. And what I encountered was some of the happiest, most grateful, kind people I've ever met. And it really turned something on the head for me internally of like poor does not mean unhappy. And um it's the same thing like having great wealth and economic standing does not equate to happiness either, you know, like so it it's something else. There's something else to be said for our preconceived notions.

22:22 And then when you go and you see what reality is, you're like, "Oh, wow. I had that totally wrong." It's humbling, too, in a way. Like it it makes you realize how small you really are in the world. Like, "Oh, I really don't know anything about anything." There's some very small islands I like to visit in Southeast Asia and like you said, they don't need a lot. They're happy with what they have because they also don't want a lot more things. Like the more things that you can have, the more things that you seem to want. Final question for you is this.

22:51 I want to go back to space. If you're given tickets, you personally, nothing to do with adventure life. Everything in your life can be perfect in that moment. You don't have to worry about anything because all that will be taken care of. If you're given tickets to Mars, would you go?

23:08 I guide all of my decisions around prayer. So, truthfully, I would pray and I would say, "God, do you want me to get on that rocket and go to Mars or not?" And that would be what would decide it for me. Just speaking off the based on my own personal inklings, I probably would not. I am not a crazy jump off the cliff type person. Um, I have never gone skydiving. I've watched my mother go with my husband because I thought, why would I jump out of a perfectly good plane? Doesn't make sense to me. So, I probably would not, but you never know.

23:42 If it was for a good cause or something like that and I really felt like I was supposed to go, then I probably would. So,

23:48 maybe if he could bring the whole family. I find it f And who knows, in 20 years, I mean, I'm I'm super excited for these. Uh, I've heard that they're, you know, bringing back like faster airplanes like they used to have, uh, you know, get you there in half the time. Other things too that can I was just reading about like like beam me up type travel like it possibly could be something in the future. Who knows, right? But I mean, the fact that

24:12 we never the fact that maybe we could get places faster, easier, we could do even more adventures. Uh but I um I love what you said around making sure that the place you're going to though actually benefits from it and is not hurt in the end along with the people. But if people want to get in touch with you, they want to go on the adventure of a lifetime, how can they do so?

24:33 They can just go to our website adventurelife.com, give us a call. We love people calling in. We still staff everything with humans. We don't use those AI agents right now. So, they can just reach out or go on our social media and reach out that way, too. It'd be great to chat with them.

24:49 Well, Monica, this has been amazing. I'm so grateful for your time today, and I can't wait to get to Antarctica. So, I'm going to call you so I can go to Antarctica and the Galapagos.

25:00 Do I'd love to send you. That will round out my travel. Except for I do want to go to space one day. But this has been amazing and thank you so much for joining me today and thank you for all that you've done in one of the spaces that I absolutely love and I hope more people in their lifetime if it allows get to do more travel and thanks for joining us on Founders Story.

25:21 It's been great. Thanks for having me on.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "The World’s Last Untouched Places (Before They Disappear) | Monika Sundem, Founder of Adventure Life"?

Monika Sundem (Guest), Unknown Host (Host).

What is "The World’s Last Untouched Places (Before They Disappear) | Monika Sundem, Founder of Adventure Life" about?

The discussion highlights the allure of the world's last untouched places, specifically the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica, emphasizing their pristine landscapes and the transformative experiences they offer to adventurous travelers. Monika Sundem, founder of Adventure Life, underscores her company’s commitment to creating unique, customized travel experiences that allow explorers to fulfill…

What is mentioned in this Founder's Story episode?

5 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Adventure Life, Galapagos Islands, Tom Barrett, Living While Dying, Aurora. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "The World’s Last Untouched Places (Before They Disappear) | Monika Sundem, Founder of Adventure Life"?

The episode runs 25 min; the transcript is about 4,851 words in 45 timestamped sections.

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